Topics

That's the word from Alfredsson's Kelowna-based agent J.P. Barry after GM Bryan Murray told the Sun he isn't sure the Senators' former captain was getting the full story during his negotiations for a new contract last month.

Barry said in an e-mail to the Sun Thursday he tried several times to get a deal done.

"The fact is this was a negotiation concerning impending free agency," Barry said. "We made multiple offers and invited them to negotiate. They provided a number on the weekend prior to July 5 and said this is all they can do due to internal budget restrictions."

"It wasn't a market offer in our estimation. They wanted Daniel to take a below market deal again after he had done the same several times previously and we didn't feel that was appropriate.

"Daniel and I spoke every day during the process at length. Essentially, the Senators wanted us to present lower offers to them and that is not how the process works."

Barry said the Senators shouldn't have relied on him to come back with a number. The club should have stated what they felt they could do.

"When a player has impending free agency and the club wants to keep that player, they need to present their best offer and not ask the player to negotiate against himself," said Barry. "The interview window opened after we couldn't bridge the gap over the weekend and a new opportunity and a new challenge came along.

"By that time, it was simply too late."

Barry said he doesn't want to get into a back-and-forth with the organization. He wants to close the door on this matter.

"Shooting the messenger is something I have never believed in nor will I ever. It's just not productive in our business to make negotiations personal," said Barry.

"I decided not to respond in July when Bryan chose to criticize my role as an agent in this process. It was an emotional day. I get it.

Daniel Alfredsson's agent J.P. Barry says their side handled negotiations the right way

That's the word from Alfredsson's Kelowna-based agent J.P. Barry after GM Bryan Murray told the Sun he isn't sure the Senators' former captain was getting the full story during his negotiations for a new contract last month.

Barry said in an e-mail to the Sun Thursday he tried several times to get a deal done.

"The fact is this was a negotiation concerning impending free agency," Barry said. "We made multiple offers and invited them to negotiate. They provided a number on the weekend prior to July 5 and said this is all they can do due to internal budget restrictions."

"It wasn't a market offer in our estimation. They wanted Daniel to take a below market deal again after he had done the same several times previously and we didn't feel that was appropriate.